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Saturday, 7 July 2012

History of 7 July Students Massacre

History of 7 July Students Massacre

On 7th July 1962, Burmese university students were massacred and
Rangoon University Students’ Union building was dynamited down where
students were still inside.

General Ne Win who came to power on 2 March 1962 after forming
the Revolutionary Council tried to crush the students’ activities by
tightening the university regulations which caused widespread resentment
amongst the students.

The dictator General Ne Win abolished University Act, and the
University Council and all University Affairs were taken over by the
Revolutionary Council.

On 7th July 1962, students called the meeting protesting the
Revolutionary Council’s unfair rules and regulations at the Rangoon
University Students’ Union building.

Military responded by arresting the student leaders. Students
gathered in front of the students’ union building, shouted slogans and
occupied the campus when they learnt that students’ leaders were
arrested.

The military surrounded the campus, throwing tear gas into the
crowds and crush the students’ protest by using excessive force and
successively declared martial law.

Early on the morning of 8 July, the historic Rangoon University
Students’ Union building was demolished by dynamite, and many students
in the building were killed which now became known as the 7 July
Students’ massacre.

General Ne Win notoriously justified his action by
saying “Dar Dar Chin and Hlan Hlan Chin shin mae” which is laterally
meaning aggressive challenging words in Burmese saying “I will fight
Sword with Sword and Spear with Spear (to wipe out the opposition)” but
in reality he killed un-armed non-violent students protesters with guns
and dynamites.